THE CALL to tap more Filipino athletes with foreign roots for international events has gained strength.
Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla, the national contingent’s chef de mission in the recent Asian Youth Games, acknowledged that overseas-based half-Filipino athletes will definitely strengthen the country’s chances of landing medals in next year’s Youth Olympic Games.
Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia voiced the same sentiment following his appointment on Monday as chef de mission to the 2014 Asian Games.
“Yes, we should tap (half-Filipino athletes) to play for the country,” Padilla said in yesterday’s PSA Forum presented by Shakey’s and Pagcor at Shakey’s Malate. “I just hope that there won’t be any demands (from these athletes) that we can’t comply with.”
The Philippines won two gold medals in the AYG held in Nanjing, China, through golfer Mia Legaspi and taekwondo-jin Pauline Louise Lopez, as well as three silvers courtesy of Jurence Mendoza (tennis), Princess Superal (golf) and Francis Aaron Agojo (taekwondo).
Padilla said the national team should now identify the athletes that will vie in the qualifiers of the Youth Olympics and find out which sports where Filipinos have good prospects of winning medals.
“We will put our resources on sports where we can get medals,” said Padilla, adding that they would be focusing on golf, taekwondo, boxing and tennis.